Oddity

I chanced upon this novel in an old bookshop straight from the stalls of Diagon Alley in Winchester. Intrigued by the reviews, I decided to give it a chance as it appeared to fall in between a child’s fairy tale and and adult fiction.The entire world it takes place in is slightly akimbo, an alternate history where the US are at war with Napoleon over the state of Louisiana (I had to check up online to find out what truly happened).The story sometimes meanders into the childish, but is thoroughly original throughout. The main character, Clover, a 12 year old girl, has to adjust to true cruelty and evil in the world around her, whilst slowly leveraging the powers of various magical “oddities” - alliances are forged and harsh realities overcome though not all wounds can be healed.Overall I really enjoyed this book for its totally unique and fiercely imagined world, it probably counts as a teen novel, up there with the best of Philip Pullman.I cannot imagine that a superb movie adaptation is not on the horizon, this book is an visual feast.

Clover Elkin is the gutsy, endearing heroine of a highly original and compelling story. I couldn't put it down! Hope to read more by this author.

Although a children’s book there will be many adults who will enjoy this as well, as it features fantasy and an alternate history of the US. We thus find ourselves in the early nineteenth century in the Unified States, because imagine what would have happened if the Louisiana Purchase had never been completed. Into this idea of America, we also have added what are called oddities, things which although looking like everyday objects seem to carry magical powers of various sorts.Here we meet young Clover Elkin, who already shows an interest in oddities as she travels with her father, her mother being apparently dead due to a fire years before. Constantine Elkin of Russian descent is a doctor who works amongst the poorer persons having left the bigger towns and cities behind. When Constantine is killed though so thirteen year old Clover finds herself alone, with the last words from her father telling her to go to New Manchester and seek out a Mr Agate. So, we find ourselves caught up in high adventure full of thrills and spills with some great characters. We have Clover already, but some of the people she meets are just as wonderful, after all there is the slightly older Nessa, a talking rooster who just happens to be a well-known and decorated soldier, and the brilliant doll called Susannah who is most certainly irrepressible, as well as many more.There are good and bad people here, but this is written more intelligently than some other books in this age range, as we see they are how they are due to character flaws, rather than pure evil as such. With war threatening to engulf everyone so Clover finds herself merged in the happenings of her state and wants to make some sort of difference. This book is intelligently written and does not patronise or talk down to children as we see the effects of environmental damage, the abuse of power, and the greed and grasping for power that can make people become dishonest, as well as obsession.As Clover finds out that there is something somewhat odd about herself, so she wants to find out more about her parents, and starts to understand the importance that our actions, although at times well intentioned do not necessarily have the outcomes that we wish for. This is certainly well worth reading and should do well with readers both young and old. There are some wonderful illustrations throughout this, not just the cover, and there is also a list of oddities after the main tale. A thank you goes to Walker Books for providing me with a copy for reviewing purposes.

The great thing about reading Oddity is that you really do not know what is going to happen next in this mysterious adventure. And our hero is a young teenage girl.The daughter of a physician has a magical Oddity in an alternate nineteenth century in which the United States is at war with Napoleon’s France.Clover Elkin embarks on a mission as she uncovers the truth about her parents and her past. Along the way she meets some dangerous men out to control her and magical characters out to help her. But who can she trust to help her?If you enjoy reading this then try The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud and All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue which also have a strong female cast.

A world totally filled to the brim with magical intrigue, likeable characters (who aren't always the good guys!) and objects drawn from pure imagination, Oddity really stands out from the hugely saturated crowd!This book is strange, richly imagined and a little bit confusing but once you get to grips with it (and just accept that you're along for the ride) you realise that's what makes it different from all the other books like this you may have read.Whilst the characters didn't necessarily interest me, the world and objects within it certainly did. Clover has to find one such object and protect it with everything she has, alongside uncovering some crazy stuff! I didn't really feel invested in Clover or her story at all, but what I think totally makes up for that (aside from how creative this book is) is that Eli Brown has provided a platform for younger readers to experience true fantasy - it takes a book like this to open younger readers eyes to the incredible worlds that fantasy writers gift us with. I would have LOVED to have read something like this as a teenager, and I would have never looked back. So hats off to Eli Brown for not just opening the eyes of young readers to what magical realism and fantasy is all about, but for shoving them into a fantastic example of what that looks like.Great start to a series. Missing some heart, missing sensational characters but absolutely stuffed with imagination.ARC provided from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.